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Peterborough-Lakefield Police Services Board interim chairman Ken Armstrong threatened to physically harm Coun. Dean Pappas in an attempt to sway his vote on splitting up the Peterborough-Lakefield police service, city administrators alleged Tuesday in a statement calling for Armstrong’s resignation.

Before city council’s Dec. 3 vote on terminating the Peterborough-Lakefield policing partnership, Armstrong called Pappas and Coun. Andrew Beamer, allegedly threatening them that he would use his influence in the community to discredit them through TVCogeco’s current affairs show, Politically Speaking.

He added the entire situation would normally have been dealt with confidentially, away from the public.

After The Examiner broke the story last week and Armstrong’s lawyer commented to the media Monday that his client has been fully exonerated and the allegations were baseless, the city had to release some information and publicly ask for Armstrong’s resignation, Horton said.

“We’re not going to sit back and allow victims of violence in the workplace, or potential victims of violence in the workplace, to become victims again,” he said.

On Monday, Armstrong’s lawyer called the allegations “petty and groundless.”

The end of the police investigation doesn’t end the situation for the municipal government, Horton said.

Horton stressed that city administration, not city council, decided to conduct an internal investigation, contact police and request Armstrong’s resignation.

“It’s not up to council to enforce the Ontario Health and Safety Act provisions when it comes to workplace violence or discrimination,” he said. “This is a decision that’s been made by myself, with input by (city solicitor Patricia Lester). You can imagine it’s not an easy decision to make.

“It’s an awkward, uncomfortable situation for everybody.”

This isn’t a response to the police budget tensions between council and the police services board or the Ontario Civilian Police Commission’s investigation of the mayor’s conduct on the police services board; this is a workplace health and safety matter, Horton said.

“We weren’t out to get anybody. We weren’t out to undermine anybody,” he said.

The city is threatening to take the matter to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission — a body that oversees civilian policing and police services boards in the province.

Although Durham Regional Police investigated and determined there are insufficient grounds for a criminal charge against Armstrong, the threats to councillors Andrew Beamer and Pappas would warrant a resignation or a suspension if the Ontario Civilian Police Commission dealt with the situation, a city release states.

“As not all facts have been printed in the media, the city is providing a public response to ensure that violence and harassment within the municipal corporation is not tolerated in any form or by anyone,” the city states.

The city has sent a letter to Armstrong’s lawyer seeking a public apology and immediate resignation of Armstrong from the Peterborough-Lakefield police services board.

Beamer, Pappas and Mayor Daryl Bennett referred questions to Horton.

Bennett characterized Armstrong’s alleged threats as an attack on Beamer and Pappas.

“It certainly disturbed me terribly. I felt concern for the two individuals. Both Andrew and Dean are both very, very diligent councillors who have the best interest of the city at heart.”

Beamer and Pappas were among the six council members who voted in favour of pulling the city out of its policing partnership with Lakefield.

Beamer and Pappas wouldn’t provide any details about the alleged threats but they both commented that the information in the city release is accurate.

“It’s not for us to defend ourselves,” Pappas said. “We’re the victims here. He’s the one who needs to defend himself.”

The city’s call for Armstrong’s resignation is based on the municipality’s workplace harassment and discrimination policy and its workplace violence prevention policy.

“Given the seriousness of the comments made by Mr. Armstrong to councillors Pappas and Beamer, including the utterance of a statement that an individual could reasonably interpret as a threat to exercise physical force against the person, the city was required by law to investigate,” the city states.

“The city is hopeful that Mr. Armstrong will acknowledge and respect the Occupational Health and Safety Act and provide the resolve required by councillors Pappas and Beamer, bringing the issue to a close for all parties concerned.”

According to the city, Armstrong has already agreed to apologize.

“The councillors have been informed that in Mr. Armstrong’s interview with Durham Regional Police, he regretted the comments he had made to them and that he was sorry and would apologize to the councillors,” the city states.

Last week, TVCogeco announced that Armstrong had resigned as long-time host of Politically Speaking due to a demanding workload of volunteer duties in the community.

Armstrong has been a member of the police board since February 2007. His current term as a provincial appointee to the board expires in February. Armstrong hasn’t revealed whether he will seek another term.